◄ Numbers 33:2 ►
At the LORD's command, Moses recorded the stages of their journey. These are the stages listed by their starting points:
Study Bible
At the LORD’s command
This phrase emphasizes divine authority and guidance. The Israelites' journey was not random but directed by God. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God leading His people, as seen in Exodus 13:21-22, where God guides them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. It underscores the importance of obedience to God's instructions, a recurring theme throughout the Pentateuch.

Moses recorded the stages of their journey
Moses, as the leader and prophet, was responsible for documenting the Israelites' journey. This act of recording serves as a historical account and a spiritual record, ensuring that future generations would remember God's faithfulness and the lessons learned. The practice of recording significant events is seen elsewhere in Scripture, such as in Deuteronomy 31:9, where Moses writes down the law. This documentation also prefigures the role of Scripture as a record of God's dealings with humanity.

These are the stages listed by their starting points
The phrase indicates a systematic account of the journey, highlighting each stage from its beginning. This methodical approach reflects the orderliness of God's plan and the importance of remembering each step of the journey. The listing of stages serves as a reminder of the progress made and the challenges overcome, similar to the genealogies and lists found in other parts of the Bible, such as in Genesis and Chronicles. It also points to the spiritual journey of believers, where each stage of life is significant in the walk of faith.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. He is the one who records the stages of the journey as commanded by God.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who commands Moses to record the stages of the Israelites' journey. His guidance and presence are central throughout the journey.

3. Stages of the Journey
Refers to the various encampments and movements of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Each stage represents a significant part of their journey and spiritual growth.

4. Starting Points
The specific locations from which the Israelites set out on each leg of their journey. These starting points are significant as they mark the progress and transitions in their journey.

5. The Israelites
The people of God, who are on a journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Their journey is both physical and spiritual, involving growth, challenges, and reliance on God.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience
Moses' obedience in recording the journey stages highlights the importance of following God's commands, even in tasks that may seem mundane.

The Value of Remembrance
Recording the stages of the journey serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and guidance. It encourages believers to remember and recount God's works in their own lives.

Spiritual Growth through Journeys
Just as the Israelites' journey had stages, our spiritual journey involves various stages of growth, challenges, and reliance on God.

God's Sovereignty in Our Journeys
The starting points and stages are determined by God, reminding us that He is sovereign over the paths we take in life.

The Role of Leadership in Faith
Moses' role in recording the journey underscores the responsibility of leaders to document and teach God's works and instructions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Moses' obedience in recording the stages of the journey challenge us in our daily walk with God?

2. In what ways can we ensure that we remember and recount God's faithfulness in our own lives?

3. How do the stages of the Israelites' journey reflect the stages of spiritual growth in a believer's life?

4. What does the concept of "starting points" teach us about God's sovereignty and timing in our personal journeys?

5. How can leaders today follow Moses' example in documenting and teaching God's works and instructions to others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 17:14
This verse highlights another instance where God commands Moses to write down events, emphasizing the importance of recording God's works and instructions for future generations.

Deuteronomy 1:2-3
These verses provide context for the journey, mentioning the time it took and the significance of the journey's stages in the Israelites' history.

Psalm 78:5-7
This passage underscores the importance of remembering and teaching the works of God to future generations, which aligns with the purpose of recording the journey's stages.
Sermons
Moses' Diary of Travels and its TeachingsD. Lloyd.Numbers 33:1-2
The Itinerary of Israel from Egypt to CanaanW. Jones.Numbers 33:1-2
The Journeys of IsraelJ. Parker, D. D.Numbers 33:1-2
The Travels of IsraelHenry, MatthewNumbers 33:1-2
The Journeyings of the IsraelitesD. Young Numbers 33:1-49
People
Aaron, Abel, Arad, Egyptians, Gad, Geber, Israelites, Moses, Perez, Tahath, Terah, Zephon
Places
0, Abarim, Abel-shittim, Abronah, Almon-diblathaim, Alush, Arad, Baal-zephon, Bene-jaakan, Beth-jeshimoth, Canaan, Dibon-gad, Dophkah, Edom, Egypt, Elim, Etham, Ezion-geber, Hahiroth, Haradah, Hashmonah, Hazeroth, Hor-haggidgad, Iye-abarim, Iyim, Jericho, Jordan River, Jotbathah, Kadesh-barnea, Kehelathah, Kibroth-hattaavah, Libnah, Makheloth, Marah, Migdol, Mithkah, Moab, Moseroth, Mount Hor, Mount Shepher, Nebo, Negev, Oboth, Pi-hahiroth, Punon, Rameses, Red Sea, Rephidim, Rimmon-perez, Rissah, Rithmah, Sinai, Succoth, Tahath, Terah, Zalmonah, Zin
Topics
Command, Commandment, Forth, Goings, Journey, Journeys, Order, Outgoings, Places, Recorded, Stage, Stages, Starting, Writeth, Writing, Wrote
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 33:2

     1443   revelation, OT

Numbers 33:1-2

     5357   journey

Library
Some Miscellaneous Matters Belonging to the Country About Jericho.
Let us begin from the last encampings of Israel beyond Jordan. Numbers 33:49: "They encamped near Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth unto Abel-shittim."--"From Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim were twelve miles." It is a most received opinion among the Jews, that the tents of the Israelites in the wilderness contained a square of twelve miles. So the Targum of Jonathan, upon Number 2:2; "The encamping of Israel was twelve miles in length, and twelve miles in breadth." And the Gemarists say, "It is forbidden …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Arbel. Shezor. Tarnegola the Upper.
"Arbel a city of Galilee."--There is mention of it in Hosea 10:14. But there are authors which do very differently interpret that place, viz. the Chaldee paraphrast, R. Solomon, Kimchi: consult them. It was between Zippor and Tiberias. Hence Nittai the Arbelite, who was president with Josua Ben Perahiah. The valley of Arbel is mentioned by the Talmudists. So also "The Arbelite Bushel." "Near Zephath in Upper Galilee was a town named Shezor, whence was R. Simeon Shezori: there he was buried. There …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Christ the Water of Life.
"Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life" (John iv. 13, 14). "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John vii. 37). "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank …
Frank G. Allen—Autobiography of Frank G. Allen, Minister of the Gospel

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
A BRIEF AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE EXCEEDING MERCY OF GOD IN CHRIST TO HIS POOR SERVANT, JOHN BUNYAN; WHEREIN IS PARTICULARLY SHOWED THE MANNER OF HIS CONVERSION, HIS SIGHT AND TROUBLE FOR SIN, HIS DREADFUL TEMPTATIONS, ALSO HOW HE DESPAIRED OF GOD'S MERCY, AND HOW THE LORD AT LENGTH THROUGH CHRIST DID DELIVER HIM FROM ALL THE GUILT AND TERROR THAT LAY UPON HIM. Whereunto is added a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Peaceable Principles and True: Or, a Brief Answer to Mr. D'Anver's and Mr. Paul's Books against My Confession of Faith, and Differences in Judgment About Baptism no Bar to Communion.
WHEREIN THEIR SCRIPTURELESS NOTIONS ARE OVERTHROWN, AND MY PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES STILL MAINTAINED. 'Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?'--Psalm 58:1 SIR, I have received and considered your short reply to my differences in judgment about water baptism no bar to communion; and observe, that you touch not the argument at all: but rather labour what you can, and beyond what you ought, to throw odiums upon your brother for reproving you for your error, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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